Stephen Hillier

Sir Stephen Hillier
Air Chief Marshal Stephen Hillier
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1980 –
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands held	Chief of the Air Staff No. 2 Group RAF Lossiemouth II (AC) Squadron
Battles/wars	Gulf War Iraq War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (United States)

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen John Hillier, KCB, CBE, DFC is a senior Royal Air Force officer, who served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability). He won the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions in the Gulf in 1999 and was awarded the US Bronze Star Medal for service in the Iraq War. He went on to be Air Officer Commanding, No. 2 Group, Director Information Superiority at the Ministry of Defence and then Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability). Hillier succeeded Air Chief Marshal Andrew Pulford as Chief of the Air Staff on 12 July 2016.

Service career

Hillier was commissioned as an acting pilot officer on 6 November 1980,^[1] and regraded to pilot officer (after Initial Officer Training) on 6 November 1981.^[2] He was promoted to flying officer on 6 November 1982.^[3] He was a pilot – flying the Tornado aircraft – and served in the 1991 Gulf War.^[4] He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1991^[5] and wing commander on 1 July 1996,^[6] and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions commanding II (AC) Squadron in the Gulf during Operation Southern Watch on 29 October 1999.^[7]

Promoted to group captain on 1 July 2000,^[8] Hillier became station commander at RAF Lossiemouth.^[9] He then served in the Iraq War,^[4] being awarded the US Bronze Star Medal on 31 October 2003.^[10] He was also appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2005 New Year Honours,^[11] just prior to his promotion to air commodore on 1 January 2005 of that year.^[12]

Hillier served as Head of Theatre Airspace Capability in the Ministry of Defence prior to his promotion to air vice marshal and appointment as Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group in September 2008.^[13] In October 2010 he returned to the Ministry of Defence as Director Information Superiority^[14] and in June 2012 he was promoted to air marshal and appointed Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability).^[15] He managed the UK's Carrier Enabled Power Projection Programme, encompassing the aircraft carrier, F35B Lightning II and Merlin Helicopter programmes; his appointment has been criticised by former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West.^[16] Hillier succeeded Air Chief Marshal Andrew Pulford as Chief of the Air Staff on 12 July 2016.^[17][18]

Hillier was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 New Year Honours.^[19][20]

References

1. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 48460. p. 17812. 22 December 1980. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
2. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 48796. p. 14595. 16 November 1981. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
3. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 49188. p. 15998. 7 December 1982. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
4. "ATA Museum Events page (includes photo)". Air Transport Auxiliary Museum. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
5. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 52591. pp. 10091–10092. 1 July 1991. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
6. The London Gazette: no. 54453. p. 8919. 1 July 1996. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
7. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 55651. p. 11558. 29 October 1999. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
8. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 55901. p. 7250. 4 July 2000. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
9. "Former Lossiemouth commander appointed to top post". Press and Journal. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
10. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57100. p. 12. 31 October 2003. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
11. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57509. pp. 4–6. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
12. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57553. p. 1518. 8 February 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
13. "Air Rank Appointments List 03/08". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
14. "Air Rank Appointments List 03/10". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
15. "Air Rank Appointments List 03/11". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
16. "Officer put in charge of Royal Navy's new £6.2bn aircraft carriers is a top RAF man who has never served at sea". Daily Mail. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
17. "The Secretary of State announces new Senior Appointments in the Armed Services". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
18. "Sir Stephen Hillier". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
19. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 60728. p. 2. 31 December 2013.
20. "New Year Honours 2014 Military Division" (PDF). UK Government. Retrieved 29 January 2016.